This week’s topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For the First Half of 2016

1. The Dirt on the Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones

In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she’s more than a little taken aback. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in.

Paranormal, romance, series (Releases Jan 5)

2. A Ghoul’s Guide to Love and Murder by Victoria Laurie

M.J., Heath, and Gilley, are back home in Boston, where their new film is sure to be a monster hit! To promote the film, the studio is sponsoring a special exhibit of supernatural artifacts at a local museum. Unfortunately, Gilley—whose mind is engaged with wedding plans—gets talked into donating to the exhibit the very dagger that keeps the dangerous ghost Oruç and his pet demon locked down in the lower realms. Before M.J. can recover the bewitched blade, there’s a murder and a heist at the museum, and the dagger is stolen.

Paranormal, romance,, mystery, series (Releases Jan 5)

3. The Siren by Kiera Cass

From Kiera Cass, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series, comes a captivating stand-alone fantasy romance. Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who’s everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can’t bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?

Young adult, romance, fantasy (Releases Jan 26)

4. Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It by Grace Helbig

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grace’s Guide and the host of The Grace Helbig Show on E! comes a beautifully illustrated, tongue-in-cheek book about style that lampoons fashion and beauty guides while offering practical advice in Grace Helbig’s trademark sweet and irreverent voice.

nonfiction, advice, humor (Releases Feb 2)

5. The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end.

Young adult, science fiction (Releases February 16)

6. Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

The story of four superfan friends whose devotion to their favorite boy band has darkly comical and murderous results.

Young adult, humor (Releases February 23)

7. All the Broken Places by Anise Eden

Cate Duncan is a promising young therapist, dedicated to her work. But after her mother’s suicide, she is seized by a paralyzing depression. To save her job, Cate agrees to enter a program with Dr. Angeline MacGregor, run by her stern son, Ben, that use unconventional approaches include crystals, aura reading and psychics.

Suspense, paranormal, romance (Releases February 16)

8. Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices) by Cassandra Clare

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Young adult, paramormal, series (Releases March 8)

9. The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter

Cassie O’Malley has spent her whole life trying to keep her head above water—literally and metaphorically. It’s been two-and-a-half years since her mother dumped Cassie in a mental institution against her will for something Cassie claims she didn’t do. Now, at eighteen, Cassie enrolls in college, ready to reclaim her life and enter the world on her own terms.

Young adult (Releases March 15)

10. The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

This extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault. Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

I’ve always loved the Star Wars movie series but have never read the books. This weekend I saw The Force Awakens and I fell in love all over again on a much deeper level. I’ve decided to read the Star Wars books but it’s always more fun to read a series together, so I created a Star Wars reading challenge!

This challenge is also a little different because there are two optional TV series that are included. Also if you are like me, you are overwhelmed by the number of Star Wars books in the expanded universe. Don’t worry! I break it all down so you know where to begin.

There are three levels to this challenge. This challenge is also little different because you do not have to choose a level. If you are like me you will be reading books from all three levels. I simply wrote out different levels to help break down the expansive Star Wars universe.

LEVEL 1: Read the Del Rey timeline books only. Watching the TV series and movies will be optional. This list includes (and they are in order):

I: The Phantom Menace

II: Attack of the Clones
The Clone Wars (TV series)
Dark Disciple

III: Revenge of the Sith
Lords of the Sith
Tarkin
A New Dawn
Rebels (TV series)

IV: A New Hope
Heir to the Jedi
Battlefront: Twilight Company

V: The Empire Strikes Back

VI: Return of the Jedi
Aftermath
Aftermath: Life Debt
Aftermath: Empire’s End
New Republic: Bloodline

VII: The Force Awakens

LEVEL 2: Read the Del Rey timeline books, watch the TV series, and read the Star Wars series of books and comics that lead up to The Force Awakens.

Read the short stories that take place before The Force Awakens. The list of short stories include:

The Perfect Weapon

High Noon on Jakku

The Face of Evil

The Crimson Corsair and the Lost Treasure of Count Dooku

All Creatures Great and Small

Other books include:Lost Stars (young adult)

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure (junior novel)

Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure (junior novel)

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure (junior novel)

Comics include:Star Wars: Shattered Empire

Star Wars Special: C-3PO

There are also reference books, a collector’s magazine, and activity books. These will be optional. For the full list visit here.

LEVEL 3: Read the Stars Wars expanded universe books and comics

My mind is blown by how many Star Wars books there are. For a full chronological list of the novels, reference books, kids’ books and comics visit here. There are far too many for me to make a list!

Is there anything else I should know?This challenge runs from Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2016.Books DO NOT need to be reread! If you have finished a book before this challenge started it will count.

You may read books from ANY level and count them towards the challenge!

Books may be hard copies, ebooks, or audiobooks.

Books may count towards other reading challenges.

You do not need a blog to participate. You can sign up using any social media profile.

The Reading Bites vampire reading challenge is back for 2016 by request!

I love anything to do with vampires. One of my favorite sayings is “Forget being a princess. I want to be a vampire!”

I’m inviting others who love the vampire book genre to join me for this reading challenge.

This is a design it yourself challenge. I want you to choose your own reading goals.

New for 2016!
To help you reach your Reading Bites goals, I will be hosting a few vampire readathons! I will be calling this the #ReadingBiteathon. The first one will be January 15 – 21, 2016. This is the winter edition. I will do one each season of the year. The sign up page for the first readathon can be found here.

The Rules:

This challenge begins January 1, 2016 and ends Dec 31, 2016.

You may sign up anytime during the year.

I won’t be creating different levels. Read as little or as many books as you want.

You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks.

Books may be YA, adult, horror, romance, etc.

You may reread books.

Books may count towards other reading challenges.

Use the hashtag #2016ReadingBites

If you could be so kind, please place the The Reading Bites Challenge banner on your blog to help spread the word.

Please link back to this blog, post about it on Facebook, Tweet about it, and so on to help spread the word.

To help you reach your Reading Bites goals, I will be hosting a few vampire readathons! I will be calling this the #ReadingBiteathon. The first one will be January 15 – 21, 2016. I will be doing one each season of the year.

You do not have to sign up for the year long 2016 Reading Bites Challenge to participate in the readathon but if you would like to please visit this post for info and to sign up!

The Rules:

This readathon begins January 15, 2016 at midnight and ends January 21, 2016 at midnight.

You may sign up anytime between now and during the readathon. Even if there is only a day or two left you are welcome to participate.

I won’t be creating different levels. Read as little or as many books as you want.

You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks.